Lafayette Square is formally part of the Presidential Park, but is perceived as a separate entity. The territory of almost three hectares with trees, fountains and monuments, surrounded by historical buildings, is recognized as a national treasure.

Hence, it is best to see the White House, and in the morning on the background photographed by tourists. Also, this place is often used for demonstrations and protests.

Once there was a platform for building materials, which is being built from the White House. Then there were placed Raceway, slave market, a military camp, a zoo and even a cemetery. In 1851, Andrew Jackson Downing, the father of American landscape design, the area prospered. Its final shape formed in the XX century: the equestrian statue in the center of the square and the four statues at the corners.

The name of the area was in honor of the Marquis Gilbert de Lafayette, one of the key figures of three revolutions - the American, the French and the July. They called him a hero of two worlds. In this turbulent life were love, the battle on American soil, a lot of power in France, persecution, prison and a triumphal tour of the United States in 1824. Then the area was named after him. It seems logical to put the statue in the center of Lafayette. However, in the middle of the square stands the monument to President Andrew Jackson.

Before his presidency, Jackson won the battle of New Orleans - a decisive battle in the Anglo-American War of 1812-1815 years. The bronze monument - the first equestrian statue in the United States - is as dramatic: the horse reared, and Jackson, whose thin face is familiar to many of twenty-dollar bills, waving his hat to his troops. The author of the monument to Clark Mills sculpted horse with his own horse - he coached the animal up on its hind legs to get a hold position. In the bronze medal for the monument were partially captured by the British guns.

Statue of Lafayette is in the southeast corner of the square. French sculptor Jean-Alexander and Marius Falger Mercy depicted Marquis calling the French to help the Americans. Half-naked female figure at the base of the pedestal, stretch Lafayette sword - America itself.

The rest of the corners of Lafayette Square, too busy monuments to the heroes of the independence wars. On the northwest side stands the statue of Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben - General Prussian origin. Spectacular sculptural group "military training" at the foot of the pedestal sculptor Albert Jaeger reminded of the important role of von Steuben, who taught the US Army. North-eastern corner marked by spectacular monument Pole, Brigadier General Tadeusz Kosciuszko Polish works of sculptor Anton Popiel.

On the southwest corner is a statue of a Frenchman, General Jean-Baptiste de Rochambeau sculptor Fernand Hamar. On the pedestal engraved with the words of George Washington - they are addressed to Rochambeau, but could be said to all the assistants to foreign young republic: "We belong to the same age, they collaborated in the cause of freedom and lived together as brothers should live - in a harmonious friendship."